A review by marywahlmeierbracciano
Heaven and Hell by Jón Kalman Stefánsson

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

In rural Iceland, a young man loses his best and only friend while cod fishing in the polar sea. They both loved poetry, had memorized verses to recite over long journeys. Now the boy feels lost and struggles to find the will to live. With exquisite language, allegory, and an intense sense of place, the comparison to Cormac McCarthy is entirely appropriate.
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